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Abbott re-signs with Sixers

Sydney Sixers quick eyeing success as he confirms he'll wear magenta in BBL|07

The Sydney Sixers have re-signed Sean Abbott for three more years after last season's leading wicket-taker was heavily courted by rival KFC Big Bash League clubs.

The 25-year-old fast bowler admitted to "a few sleepless nights" as he pondered his Big Bash future for BBL|07 and beyond.

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"There were a couple (of suitors), including the old enemy in my old team the Thunder," Abbott told the Sixers FM podcast.

"I thought hard about all of those, and really made sure I made the right decision.

"There were a few sleepless nights but I'm pretty happy to be staying at the Sixers."

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Abbott has played five seasons at the Sixers, and last year claimed 20 wickets in 10 matches at 16.15 to be the competition's leading wicket-taker, albeit at the economy rate of 8.72.

He has 40 career wickets for the Sixers, with the 5-16 he took in last season's New Year's Even showdown with Adelaide his career-best return.

He also played a key role with the bat, a stunning cameo of an unbeaten 33 from 17 balls lifting the Sixers from near-certain defeat to victory against the Melbourne Stars and into the semi-final spots.

Their defeat in the final against the Perth Scorchers at the WACA left Abbott pondering his future and open to offers, but admitted it was always going to be a tough ask to turn him from the Sixers' magenta.

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"I said to (Moises Henriques, the Sixers captain) at the start that I wanted to stay, but I was going to make sure I was making the right decision for my cricket moving forward.

"I think I've done that. We're going to have a lot of success as a club over the next few years – in both the BBL and WBBL – so that was the main reason for staying."

The Sixers were stung by their nine-wicket thumping in the BBL|06 final but Abbott said the fact they were even able to make the final spoke volumes about the club.

"We didn't put our best cricket forward last year," Abbott said. "Yeah, we won some key moments in games but I don't think we put a whole game together last year.

"That is promising considering we made the final.

"Our biggest challenge will be to put more complete games together, not just winning key moments of the game.

"I think we'll be a very hard team to beat if we do that."

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The Sydney Sixers open the BBL|07 season with a local derby against the Thunder at Spotless Stadium on December 19.